What is meth?
Methamphetamine,
also known as “meth,”
“speed,”
“crank,” or
“ice,” is a
powerful and
highly addictive
stimulant that
affects the
central nervous
system. Meth is
a synthetic drug
produced or sold
as pills,
capsules, or
powder that can
be smoked,
snorted,
injected, or
swallowed.
Methamphetamine
is neurotoxic,
meaning it damages
the nervous
system. Meth use
can cause dependence and
addiction
psychosis, stroke,
dangerously high
body
temperature, and
cardiac
arrhythmia.
Withdrawal often
results in
severe
depression and
paranoia.
Meth
is both imported
and manufactured
locally.
For many years,
meth primarily
has been
imported into
the United
States as a
finished drug
from Mexico, and
more recently
from other
countries as
well, including
Canada, China,
and Southeast
Asia. In
addition, it
also has been
made locally,
principally from
bulk quantities
of chemicals
illegally
smuggled into
this country.
These bulk
chemicals—most
notably
pseudoephedrine
and
ephedrine—are
used by “super
labs,” defined
as laboratories
capable of
making more than
10 pounds of
methamphetamine
in 24 hours.
According to the
U.S. Drug
Enforcement
Administration,
these
large-capacity
facilities
produce most of
the
methamphetamine
made in this
country.
However, the
production of
methamphetamine
has changed
significantly
during the past
10 years. Law
enforcement
authorities have
seen a
substantial
increase in the
number of small
labs where meth
cooks use
“recipes,” often
found online, to
create small
amounts of the
drug from
legitimate
household
products. While
these small
homemade labs
produce a tiny
fraction of the
meth a “super
lab” may
produce, they
present a huge
danger to the
communities in
which they
operate. Toxic,
hazardous, and
explosive
chemicals are
by-products of
the production
process, and
have a
devastating
effect on the
environment,
communities, and
the children who
are often
present. Because
of the hazards
they produce,
these types of
labs are called
“small toxic
labs” by law
enforcement
officials.
Meth can be made
from commonly
available,
legitimate
household
products.
The spread of
meth across the
country has been
a difficult
problem for law
enforcement.
These small
toxic labs can
be found in a
meth "cook’s”
home, in an
automobile, or
alongside a
road. The
ingredients used
to make meth are
legitimate
household
materials,
usually found at
retail stores,
such as:
-
Over-the-counter
cough, cold,
asthma, and
allergy
medicines
containing
pseudoephedrine
or ephedrine
-
Acetone
-
Rubbing and
isopropyl
alcohol
-
Iodine
-
Starter
fluid
(ether)
-
Gas
additives
(methanol)
-
Drain
cleaner
(sulfuric
acid)
-
Lithium
batteries
-
Rock salt
-
Matchbooks
(red
phosphorus)
-
Lye
-
Paint
thinner
-
Aluminum
foil
-
Glassware
-
Coffee
filters
-
Propane
tanks
Given the
requirements of
the meth
production
process, many
communities
across the
nation are
forming
partnerships
between law
enforcement and
retailers to
fight this
problem.
Many retailers
have implemented
voluntary
restrictions and are in
a unique
position to help
law enforcement
in the fight
against meth
since the
small-scale labs
use a number of
commonly found
household
products
available at
drugstores,
supermarkets,
and other retail
outlets found in
every community.
The principle
product in meth
manufacture,
however, is
pseudoephedrine
(PSE) or
ephedrine. While
millions of
Americans rely
on these
FDA-regulated
medicines for
safe and
effective relief
of symptoms
associated with
colds, coughs,
sinusitis, and
allergies, meth
cooks depend on
stealing them or
buying them in
large amounts to
manufacture the
illegal drug.
The Meth Watch
program
addresses this
problem, and
gives
communities
proven and
powerful tools
to curb meth
production
locally.
back to top